Safety Will Allen is a natural born leader for younger Steelers' players.

As if on cue, Dri Archer and B.W. Webb flew in behind Will Allen, jumped in the shot and messed with his hair, just as he was about to answer a question about the youth on the Steelers 2015 team.

An unfazed Allen just shook his head and laughed.

“You have young guys like that messing with an old guy like me,” said Allen, as the two jumped out of the shot just as fast as they entered it.

It was the prime example of what Monday was all about for the Steelers. It was a day at Dave & Buster’s at the Waterfront set aside for team building. No football. No practice. No sweat. Just fun and being around teammates in a relaxed setting.

And Allen, well he is the prime example of understanding what the day was all about and making sure the young guys did as well.

“Coach (Mike) Tomlin is affording us the opportunity to grow closer,” said Allen. “Different groups of guys get together here. Maybe the defensive backs will hang out with the offensive line, however the combination will be. He is allowing everyone to mingle and get to know each other a little bit and let some competitive juices come.

“You get to know people in a more in depth way. You have pockets of guys who hang out together, now everybody hangs out together.”

Allen might not be a captain for the Steelers, but there is no doubt the 12-year veteran is a leader through and through. He brings so much to the table young players can learn from.

He is unselfish on the field with the ability to go from starter to backup and back to starter without a blink of an eye. He is a leader in the community, with the Will Allen Foundation a shining example of how players should give back. And his business savvy for knowing how to handle his finances, how to be prepared for life after football, is unparalleled.

He credits all of that to those he played with, from Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks when he was with Tampa Bay, to teammates like James Farrior, Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton with the Steelers.

“It’s teaching guys what I have learned over the years and what great players have taught and showed me,” said Allen. “Those guys showed me a lot about how to be a professional, not only on the field, but off the field and how to take care of my body.

“I learned a lot from those guys. As a young player you have to watch a veteran and see how he behaves on and off the field. As an older player it’s your responsibility to pay it forward, what you learned from other veteran players. That is a part of the NFL. That is part of being able to lead.”

Allen said the best advice he can give younger players is to take care of themselves, and be wise financially, because careers don’t last forever.

“Take care of your body and it will take care of you, take care of your money and it will take care of you,” said Allen. “Those are the most important assets we have as players, our bodies and finances. If you can find a way to manage that well, you can play for a long time, and you can save a lot of money and be set when you are done playing.”

Will Allen knows the secondary has work to do, but likes where they are headed.

Will Allen knows what OTAs are all about. He has been in the league long enough, entering his 12th season, to understand that while a lot of great work is being done now by the team’s young defensive backs, it’s still not contact and that is what football is all about.

“Some guys are showing they can play well, but we are only in jerseys and helmets,” said Allen. “A lot of guys are showing quickness, speed and athleticism. Training camp will show who we are, what the defensive backs can do.”

There is still a lot of time until training camp, with three OTAs remaining and the team’s minicamp, and there is still work to be done to get to the point where Allen wants the unit to be.

“We have a lot of growing to do,” said Allen. “We are nearly where we want to be. There is something to get excited for, and to be encouraged about. I would like to see us progress, not make the same mistakes twice. We have to start a lot faster than we did last year to be world champions.”

Allen said while the retirement of Troy Polamalu will be felt by the defense, they won’t be looking for anyone to replace him, instead just everyone do what it asked of them.

“Guys have to just do their job,” said Allen. “If you do your job, execute and bring your best, we can go where we want to go. Troy was a huge part of this team, nobody can be like him. Nobody wants to measure up to that.

“If everybody does their job, plays in the confines of the defense and does what their bodies allow them too, we can do a lot of great things this year.”

Allen, who was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in 2004, signed with the Steelers in 2009 as an unrestricted free agent. He left after the 2012 season, signing with the Dallas Cowboys, but it was a short stint. He was released by the Cowboys just a little over a month into the 2013 season, and the day after he was waived, he was signed back by the Steelers. He was a free agent this past offseason, but wanted nothing more than to remain with the Steelers.

“I couldn’t imagine myself playing anywhere else, with any other organization,” said Allen. “I love playing for Coach (Mike) Tomlin, the Rooney family. It’s fun. It’s where I am supposed to be.

“Just with the community, my foundation, what I am doing and the team, helping the young players and coming to work every day. I love the environment. It’s conducive to winning.”